DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

[TED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 

'Wateb-Supply Paper 376 

PROFILE SURVEYS 

IN 

SHELAN AND METHOW RIVER BASINS 
WASHINGTON 

PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF 

R. B. MARSHALL, Chief Geographer 



Prepared in cooperation with 
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1915 



Monoj^ph 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 



Water- Supply Paper 376 



PROFILE SURVEYS 

IN 

CHELAN AND METHOW RIVER BASINS 
WASHINGTON 

PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OE 

R. B. MARSHALL, Chief Geographer 



Prepared in cooperation with 
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1915 






B, of D. 
tHVf 30 1915 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 5 

Chelan River basin, Washington 5 

General features 5 

Gaging stations 6 

Methow Kiver basin, Washington 6 

, General features 6 

Gaging stations 7 

Publications 7 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Plates I-III. Plan and profile of Stehekin River below Bridge Creek, Rail- 
road Creek near Lucerne, and Chelan River from lake to 

mouth, Wash. (3 sheets, A-C) At end of volume. 

IV-V. Plan and profile of Methow River from Pateros to mouth of 
Gold Creek and Chewack Creek, Waph. (2 sheets, A aud 
B) At end of volume. 



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PROFILE SURYEYS IN CHELAt( AND METHOW RIVER 
BASINS, WASHINGTON. 



Prepared under the direction of R. B. Marshall, Chief Geographer. 



INTRODUCTION. 

In order to determine the location of undeveloped water powers 
on the rivers of the United States, the United States Geological 
Survey has from time to time made surveys and profiles of some of 
the streams adapted to the development of power by low or medium 
heads of 20 to 100 feet. 

The surveys are made by means of plane table and stadia. Eleva- 
tions are based on heights derived from primary or precise levels of 
the United States Geological Survey. The maps are made in the 
field and show not only the outlines of the river banks, the islands, 
the position of rapids, falls, shoals, and existing dams, and the cross- 
ings of all ferries and roads, but the contours of banks to an eleva- 
tion high enough to mdicate the possibility of using the stream.' 
The elevations of the bench marks left are noted on the field sheets 
in their proper positions. All gaging stations are shown on the 
maps, and the elevation of the zero of the gage is given. 

CHELAN RIVER BASIN. 

GENERAL FEATTJRES. 

Chelan River forms the outlet of Lake Chelan, in Chelan County, 
Wash. The river, which joins Columbia River at Chelan Falls, 
Wash., is only 4 miles long and in this distance has a fall of 380 feet. 
The lake and vaUey have been described by WiUis ^ as follows : 

Lake Chelan is a slender body of water 65 miles long,^ whose southeastern end lies 
open to the sky between the grass-grown hills of the outer Columbia Valley, while its 
northwestern lies in shadow between precipitous mountains in the heart of the Cascade 
Range. There are sandy hollows near its outlet, but beneath the cliffs of its upper 
course the water is profoundly deep. 

In brief technical phrase the lake basin is a canyon modified, deepened, and 
dammed by glaciation. The canyon is that of the Steheldn-Chelan River, which rises 
in latitude 48° 30^ in glaciers of the Cascade Range at altitudes of 5,000 to 8,000 feet. 
The headwaters descend very abruptly, 1,000 to 1,800 feet in the first mile below the 

1 Willis, Bailey, Contributions to the geology of Washington: Physiography and deformation of the 
Wenatchee-Chelan district, Cascade Range: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 19, pp. 58, 81, 1903. 

2 The length is 48 miles as measured on the Stehekin, Methow, and Chelan topographic sheets, U. S. 
Geol. Survey. 

5 



6 PROFILE SURVEYS OlST CHELAN AND METHOW EIVEES, WASH. 

glaciers, and comloiiie in a U-shaped valley of gentler grade, the fall being 2,500 feet 
in 23 miles. This section is cut in rock bottom. For 12 miles farther downstream the 
valley is floored with bowlders, coarse gi-avel, and sand, and the slope is but 20 feet to 
the mile, ending in the delta which the stream is building in Lake Chelan. 

The gravel-filled section of the valley is no doubt deeply cut in the solid rock, since 
but a short distance bej'ond the front of the delta the lake is more than 500 feet deep. 
For a distance of 35 miles the depth varies from 1,000 to 1,400 feet, 1,419 feet being the 
maximum as yet sounded. As the water sm-face is but 1,079 feet above sea, the bottom 
of the lake is for a short stretch 300 feet below sea level. * * * Fifteen miles from 
its outlet the lake begins to shallow, and in its lower reach does not exceed 200 feet in 
depth. 

The water is retained at its present level by a dam of sand and gravel, which in the 
section exposed by Chelan River is seen to consist of several successive members, i. e., 
^soil, coarse stream gravel, till, very coarse gravel in pockets or channels, and cross- 
stratified sands. The base of the drift is not exposed. This drift dam fills the pre- 
glacial valley by which the Stehekin-Chelan River once reached the Columbia, and 
the present outlet turns from the drift into the gneiss and granite south of it, and has 
there cut a deep rock gorge. 

According to the altitudes above sea of rock in place in the Columbia several miles 
below the junction, that of the lowest rock sill over which the waters of Lake Chelan 
can have escaped is about 700 feet. 

Development of the fall on Chelan River between the lake and the 
mouth is contemplated by the Great Northern Railway Co. 

The results of profile surveys in the Chelan River basin are given 
in Plates I-III (at end of volume). 

GAGING STATIONS. 

The Geological Survey has maintained in the basin of Chelan River 
the gaging stations indicated by the follomng list. The stations are 
arranged in downstream order, the position of tributaries being indi- 
cated by indention. A dash after the date indicates that the station 
was being maintained June 30, 1915. A period after the date indi- 
cates discontinuance. 

Stehekin River (head of Chelan River) near Stehekin, V^ash., 1910- 
Chelan Lake at Lakeside, Wash., 1897-1899; 1905. 
Chelan Lake at Chelan, Wash., 1910- 
Chelan River at Chelan, Wash., 1903- 

Raihoad Creek at Lucerne, Wash., 1910-1912. 

METHOW RIVER BASIN. 

GENERAL FEATURES. 

Methow River rises on the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains, 
in the northern part of Okanogan County, flows southeastward and 
unites with Columbia River near Pateros. It is about 60 miles long, 
and its drainage basin, which lies west of the Okanogan basin and 
east of the basin of Chelan Lake, comprises about 1,700 square miles. 
The most important tributaries of the Methow are Chewack Creek, 



PROFILE SURVEYS ON CHELAN AND METHOW RIVERS, WASH. 7 

wliich joins it near Winthrop, and Twisp River, which enters from 
the west at Twisp. 

The country is rough and mountainous and hghtly forested. Tlie 
mean annual rainfall ranges from 70 or 80 inches on the summit of 
the Cascades to about 15 inches at the mouth of the river. Irrigation 
is not practiced except on the lands lying contiguous to the streams. 
The climatic conditions are favorable for intensive agriculture. 

A hydroelectric plant on Methow River just above Pateros supplies 
power and light for Pateros, Bridgeport, and Brewster and power to 
ranchers for pumping water from Columbia River for irrigation. 
The pumping plants along the Columbia in tins locality require a lift 
of 30 to 125 feet. The flume of the power plant carries about 600 
second-feet of water. 

The results of profile surveys in the Methow River basin are given 
in Plates IV-V (at end of volume). 

GAGING STATIONS. 

The Geological Survey has maintained in the basin of Methow 
River three gaging stations as follows : 

Methow River at Winthrop, Wash., 1912. 
Methow River at Pateros, Wash., 1903- 

Twisp River near Twisp, Wash., 1912-1913. 

The dash after the date indicates that the station was being main- 
tained June 30, 1915. A period after the date indicates discontinu- 
ance. 

PUBLICATIONS. 

The following publications of the Geological Survey contain the 
results of investigations of stream flow at stations in Chelan and 
Methow River basins: 

Chelan River basin: 

Annual Reports: Nineteenth, Part IV; Twentieth, Part IV; Twenty-first Part 
IV. 

Water-Supply Papers: 16, 28, 38, 100, 135, 178, 292, 312, 332 A, 362 A,i 392. i 
Methow River basin: 

Water-Supply Papers: 100, 135, 178, 214, 252, 272, 292, 312, 332 A, 362 A,i 392. i 

Water-supply papers and other publications of the United States 
Geological Survey containing data in regard to the water resources 
of the United States may be obtained or consulted as indicated below: 

1. Copies may be obtained free of charge by applying to the 
Director of the Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. The edition 
printed for free distribution is; however, small and is soon exhausted. 

2. Copies may be purchased at nominal cost from the Superintend- 
ent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C, 
who win on application furnish lists giving prices. 

1 In preparation. 



8 PROFILE SURVEYS ON" CHELAIST AND METHOW EIVEES, WASH. 

3. Sets of the reports may be consulted in the libraries of the prin- 
cipal cities in the United States. 

4. Complete sets are available for consultation in the local offices 
of the water-resources branch of the Geological Survey, as follows : 

Albany, N. Y., Eoom 18, Federal Building. ' 

Atlanta, Ga., Post Office Building. 

St. Paul, Minn., Old Capitol Building. 

Madison, Wis., Capitol Building. 

Helena, Mont., Montana National Bank Building. 

Denver, Colo., 302 Chamber of Commerce Building^ 

Salt Lake City, Utah, Federal Building. 

Boise, Idaho, 615 Idaho Building. 

Phoenix, Ariz., 417 Fleming Building. 

Portland, Oreg., 416 Couch Building. 

Tacoma, Wash., Federal Building. 

San Francisco, Cal., 328 Customhouse. 

Los Angeles, Cal., Federal'Building. 

Honolulu, Hawaii, Kapiolani Building. 

A list of the Geological Survey's publications will be sent on appli- 
cation to the Director of the United States Geological Survey 
Washington, D, C. 

o 



U. S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

STATE OF WASHINGTON 

M. E. HAY, GOVERNOR 

HENRY LANDES, STATE GEOLOGIST 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

STEHEKIN RIVER BELOW BRIDGE CREEK. 

RAILROAD CREEK NEAR LUCERNE, 

AND CHELAN RIVER, LAKE TO MOUTH. WASHINGTON 



SHEET A 1-2 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 376 PLATE 




U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

STATE OF WASHINGTON 

M. E, HAY, GOVERNOR 

HENRY LANDES, STATE GEOLOGIST 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

STEHEKIN RIVER BELOW BRIDGE CREEK, 

RAILROAD CREEK NEAR LUCERNE, 

AND CHELAN RIVER, LAKE TO MOUTH, WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 376 PLATE I 












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U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

STATE OF WASHINGTON 

M, E, HAV. GOVERNOR 

HENRy LANDES. STATE GEOLOGIST 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

STEHEKIN RIVER BELOW BRIDGE CREEK.. 

RAILROAD CREEK NEAR LUCERNE. 

AND CHELAN RIVER, LAKE TO MOUTH. WASHINGTON 



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U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

STATE OF WASHINGTON 

M. E. HAY, GOVERNOR 

HENRY LANDES, STATE GEOLOGIST 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

METHOW RIVER, PATEROS TO MOUTH OF GOLD CREEK. 

AND CHEWACK CREEK. WASHINGTON 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 376 PLATE 





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GEORGE OTIS SMITH, DIRECTOR 

STATE OF WASHINGTON 

M. E. HAY, GOVERNOR 

HENRY LANDES, STATE GEOLOGIST 



PLAN AND PROFILE OF 

METHOW RIVER, PATEROS TO MOUTH OF GOLD CREEK 

AND CHEWACK CREEK, WASHINGTON 



SHEET BI-2 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 376 PLATE 





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R. B, Maishall, Chiel Geogfapher 
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Topography by A. J. Ogle 
Surveyed in 1912 




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